Latest Crime News

Police patrols lead to arrest of 5 including a member of the SAPS in connection with poaching
Five (5) men, including a police official, were arrested at a game farm in the Limpopo area in two separate incidents by the Rhino 08 Poaching Task Team. In the first incident, four (4) men were arrested for allegedly poaching a giraffe. In their possession was a silencer, unlicensed revolver, a telescope amongst other items. The four appeared on a charge of ‘removal or movement of any controlled animal or thing across land in a controlled area without a permit’. During operations, a sixty-eight-year-old farm manager, was also arrested for being in the possession of ten (10) rhino horns, two (2) elephant tasks, eleven (11) rifles of which four(4) are unlicensed amongst other incriminating items.

GAUTENG

Serial rapist nabbed
Leading the provinces with success operations over the weekend is the Gauteng province, with the arrest of three-hundred and fourteen (314) suspects across the province. The suspects were arrested during “Operation Basadi” – an operation aimed at preventing and combating the scourge of Gender-Based Violence. Among those arrested are eighty-one (81) suspects linked to crimes against women and children, such as rape, attempted-rape and child neglect. A serial rapist who has been linked to at least 20 cases of sexual offences in the provinces of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Gauteng and Limpopo was also nabbed during the operation. Two-hundred and twenty-eight (228) suspects were arrested for assault, twelve (12) for driving under the influence of alcohol and twenty-four (24) for being in possession of drugs. The rest were arrested for various other crimes including housebreaking and theft. The operations included roadblocks, stop and search operations and tracing of wanted suspects.
Police on routine patrol also seized eighteen (18) firearms and arrested twenty-two (22) people in connection with the possession of unlicensed firearms.
Members from Sunnyside Police Station must also be commended for the swift arrest of a man, who shot and killed a woman during the early hours of Sunday morning. It’s alleged the man fatally shot the woman during an argument after a night out at a popular night club in the area. Police followed several leads and raided identified premises – which led to the suspect handing himself over to police.
Those arrested are expected to appear in court on Monday,21 August 2017.

MPUMALANGA

189 arrested
Mpumalanga police arrested a total of one-hundred and eighty-nine (189) suspects for various crimes including malicious damage to property, rape and murder.
Amongst the arrested, forty-three (43) were arrested for contact crimes, twenty-four (24) for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and seventy-eight (78) for the illegal possession of drugs. Two airguns, four firearms and one rifle were also seized. The suspects were arrested during operations that took place throughout the ten clusters in Mpumalanga.

LIMPOPO

Six jailed for serious crimes and 96 arrested
During an intelligence led operation over the weekend, ninety-six (96) people were arrested for various crimes in the areas of Groblersdal, Thohoyandou, Ga-Masemola and various other villages. Those arrested will have to answer to crimes ranging from theft and being in possession of unlicensed firearms.
The SAPS detective operation wing in this province must also be commended for their good work in securing lengthy jail terms for six men in the Polokwane High Court. The six were found guilty of various crimes including rape, murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and public violence. The crimes took place between 2011 and 2015.

WESTERN CAPE

Suspect arrested for attempted murder of a Kensington girl (12)
Western Cape police reacted swiftly after a 12-year-old girl was hit in the head by a stray bullet. The girl was caught in a cross-fire between rival gangs in the area when she was shot. Police immediately acted on information, and in less than 24-hours, a 24-year-old suspect was apprehended. The suspect is due in court on Monday, 21 August 2017.
In another attempt to root out gang-related crimes in the Western Cape, police in Nyanga and Mitchells Plain arrested eight (8) people who were found to be in the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The arrest of the men aged between 19 and 35 years-old were as a result of increased police visibility in the area. A total of five unlicensed firearms were seized.
A 30-year-old man was also apprehended in Bishop Lavis. He was found in possession of two unlicensed firearms, explosives and ammunition.
All arrested are expected to appear in court on Monday, 21 August 2017.

NORTH WEST

Two arrested in connection with violent protests in Majakaneng
Two (2) men were arrested following a week-long of violent community protests along the N4,R104 and the R566 in Majakaneng. During the violent protests, a vehicle and a truck were both set alight. Passing motorists vehicles’ were also pelted with stones. The two suspects aged 38 and 40 will appear in the Brits Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 21 August 2017.

EASTERN CAPE

Off-duty station commanders’ vigilance leads to arrest of robbers
An off-duty station commander must also be commended for reacting swiftly to a robbery in progress in the Addo area. Captain Vuyo Dolosi ,was off-duty when he noticed a group of men trying to rob a 22-year-old man in the Nomathamsanqa area on Saturday. Upon noticing the officer who was hot on their heels, the group sped off but were confronted by police officers who had barricaded the road. Upon investigation, it was found that the men had robbed four other people off their cell phones during the same evening. The men aged between 20 and 40 will appear in Court on Monday,21 August 2017.
In another case, two suspects aged 36 and 47 were arrested by members of the South African Police Service in Port Alfred, following a tip-off that the duo had defrauded a local businessman. Police followed up on information and managed to apprehend the two. The pair are already being linked to similar cases in the area. They will appear in the Port Alfred Magistrates Court.
On Saturday, Police in Lusikisiki sent out a clear message and warning to those trading in alcohol illegally after closing down an illegal shebeen. During the raid, police confiscated an undisclosed amount of liquor.

FREE STATE

Wheel-chair bound man found in possession of drugs
Various operations were held throughout the province, which led to the arrest of five people in possession of dagga and CAT. The five were arrested in the areas of Welkom and Harrismith.
Dagga worth R7400 was seized.
The arrests include that of a 28-year-old wheel-chair bound man who was arrested at Bedelia Shopping Centre in Welkom. He was found in possession of dagga and CAT.

KWA-ZULU NATAL

22 arrested for drunken-driving
On Friday evening, Kwa-Mashu police conducted a joint road block operation together with other law enforcement agencies. This led to the arrest of twenty-two (22) people along the M25 highway for driving under the influence of alcohol. They will appear before the Ntuzuma Magistrates Court on Monday, 21 August 2017.
A search operation at the infamous Kwa-Mashu hostel also yielded positive results after police found a man in possession of an unlicensed firearm. The 25-year-old suspect is due to appear in the Ntuzuma Magistrates Court on Monday, 21 August 2017.

NORTHERN CAPE

Five arrested for business burglary
Five men were arrested for their involvement in a business burglary in two separate incidents. In the first incident, three suspects aged 32, 33 and 42 years-old were arrested for allegedly stealing bicycles at a cycling store in Kimberley. The trio are expected to appear in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 21 August 2017. In the second incident, two men were arrested after a robbery at a local store in the Modderivier area. The pair are alleged to have stolen money and cigarretes worth R14 800. The duo is expected in court soon.